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Garden Tips: Planting for winter bird use

You’ve purchased and set up your bird feeding station, filled it with high-quality bird food, sat down by the window with your binoculars and identification guide, and… …no birds! What’s up with that? Birds need food to survive, of course, and feeders can provide them with desperately needed calories, especially in the deep cold of […]

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Late-summer allergies: goldenrod isn’t the culprit!

For many, late-summer is hailed by runny noses, itchy eyes, and irritated throats. Plenty of colourful flowers are in bloom at this time of year, including Queen Anne’s Lace (a.k.a. Wild Carrot), New England Asters, and Blueweed (a.k.a. Viper’s Bugloss), but the new bloom on the block when these allergies hit is the conspicuous bright […]

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Garden Tips: Landscaping for birds

The two most recent Garden Gate episodes were filmed in my backyard. The first is about setting up a squirrel-proof bird feeding station. It aired recently and is now on the Avant-Garden Shop’s YouTube channel. The second is about including trees and shrubs in your landscaping plans to attract birds and provide shelter. It may […]

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Garden Gate: Episode 115 – Creating a fun patio (May 12th, 2017)

CHEX TV airdate: Friday May 12th, 2017 Click link to watch this episode online. The nice weather has finally arrived!  It’s time to get out and absorb some vitamin D. We have some fun, retro patio chairs now in stock.  These “motel” chairs have been in production in Canada since 1973!  They’re super comfy too. […]

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Garden Gate: Episode 95 – Rain chains (August 5th, 2016)

CHEX TV airdate: August 5th, 2016 5-6pmClick link to watch this episode online. Rain chains originated in Japan and have been used as artistic decorations for the home for many years.  You often see them in magazines but to find quality ones in shops has been difficult.  But no more!  We have a lovely supply […]

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Garden Gate: Episode 94 – Sun protection with Dr. Salvaterra (July 22, 2016)

CHEX TV airdate: July 22nd, 5-6pmClick link to watch this episode online Oh the heat!  Oh the sun!  Who would have thought we could be complaining about too much sun after the last couple of winters we’ve endured!? But, under our breath we complain (a little). Be aware! The occurrence of sun burns and skin cancer […]

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Garden Gate: Episode 71 – Susan Chan, Importance of Bees

honey bee

CHEX TV airdate: Sept. 4th, 5-6pm Click here to watch this episode online. Sue Chan is an expert on bees. Her life is buzzing all the time! Sue works for a variety of organizations including Farms at Work. (http://www.farmsatwork.ca/about-us) ?It was with that organization that she wrote a booklet about bees called A Landowner’s Guide […]

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Garden Gate: Episode 67 – Neonicotinoids – What are they and why are they bad? Guest Mark Bennett

Bees Chart Neonicotinoids

CHEX TV airdate: Friday July 10th, 5-6pm Click link to watch this episode online. We’ve been hearing a lot in the news about Neonicotinoids (Neonics). This relatively new class of insecticide affects the central nervous system of insects, resulting in paralysis and death. ?Plants that have been grown using Neonics are harmful to bees, butterfly’s […]

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